Black History Month Events

Opening Ceremony

Film Screening: “The Way of All Flesh”

Wednesday, Feb. 7 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. | Pedernales AuditoriumFor years, scientists tried to get cancer cells to reproduce outside of the body with little success. In 1951, a few days before an African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in a Baltimore hospital, and without her consent, a scientist took samples from her remarkably aggressive tumor and placed them in growth medium to see if the cancerous cells would survive and grow. Not only did they flourish, but Henrietta’s cells have since proven vital to cancer research worldwide. Known as the HeLa immortal cell line in biomedical research, Henrietta's cells have endured for decades in labs around the world while she remained anonymous and unrecognized. This film examines how HeLa cells have advanced the war on cancer and why they have caused controversy among scientists in the highly-politicized research community.

Lunch & Learn: Roger Reeves

Thursday, Feb. 15 | 12:30–1:130 p.m. | Legacy Room (Ozuna 101)
Roger Reeves is an award-winning American poet known for balancing talent with engagement to connect people with the art. Join him as he shares excerpts of his work and stories about his journey as a writer.

Keynote: Attica Locke

Wednesday, Feb. 21 | Lunch Session 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. & Evening Session 6–7 p.m. | Performing Arts Center AuditoriumSpecial guest Attica Locke shares insights from her journey as an award-winning author and writer/producer for the hit TV series, Empire. Her presentations will be followed by a reception and book signing.

Raised in Houston, Locke’s novel Bluebird (2017) is set in Texas, where her family roots stretch back to slavery. Locke’s first novel, Black Water Rising, was nominated for a 2010 Edgar Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize. It was shortlisted for the prestigious Orange Prize in the UK (now the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction).

A graduate of Northwestern University, Locke was a fellow at the Sundance Institute's Feature Filmmakers Lab. She has written scripts for Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, 20th Century Fox, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, HBO, and DreamWorks.

PAC Gives Back

Saturday, Feb. 24 | 8 a.m.–noon | Meet at Palo Alto College Lot 8 Celebrating community with a day of service. Give back by volunteering your time to the San Antonio Food Bank Food Fair or the City of San Antonio Graffiti Abatement Program.